First Siemens S70 LRVs begin Minneapolis service

Metro Transit light rail vehicles 201 and 202 began operating in revenue service on the Hiawatha Line in Minneapolis Tuesday, the first of 59 Siemens S70 LRVs on order by Metro Transit.

The cars have been ordered in part for the looming system expansion due in 2014, when the Central Corridor light rail line links Minneapolis with downtown St. Paul, the state capital. But roughly 12 are slated for use on the existing Hiawatha Line.

Four additional S70s have been delivered by Siemens from its Sacramento, Calif., plant, but are undergoing testing prior to revenue operation.